Low foam branched alkyldimethylamine oxides

ABSTRACT

An amine oxide having the formula: ##STR1## wherein the R 1  groups are independently selected from C 1  -C 4  alkyl or alkoxy groups and R 2  is a branched chain C 11  -C 16  alkyl group; a detersive composition containing such amine oxide with amphoteric surfactants and/or alkalizing agent; and the use of said composition for cleaning hard surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trialkylamine oxides are well known as surfactants and foaming agents that are used in a variety of applications, including sanitizers, cleaners, emulsifiers, fabric softeners, oil drilling lubricants, and the like. The particular application for which a given amine oxide will be preferred depends upon its functional characteristics, which in turn depend upon the nature of the alkyl substituents. The functional properties include surface tension reduction, wetting ability, and the amount and quality of the foam produced. Structural parameters include the number of long-chain alkyl groups, their length, and their degree of branching.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,243 discloses n-octyl dimethylamine oxide, n-decyl dimethylamine oxide, and branched decyl dimethylamine oxide for use in oil and gas production, based on their ability to produce copious, stable foam. U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,631 discloses bis (2-hydroxyethyl) cocoamine oxide, dimethyl-hydrogenated tallowamine oxide, and dimethylhexadecylamine oxide, all of which contain unbranched alkyl chains, for use in combination with quaternary ammonium compounds as foaming and silt suspending agents. European Patent Application WO 92/13934 teaches the use of N-alkyl-N,N,-dimethylamine oxides (preferably containing a C₁₂₋₁₈ straight chain alkyl group), in combination with N,N-dehydrogenated tallow N,N,-dimethylammonium chloride, in laundry rinses and dryer sheets; no evaluation of the foaming properties of these formulations is disclosed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,627 discloses a relatively low-foaming amine oxide containing two C₆₋₂₀ straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl groups.

Unfortunately, none of these products has little or no foam, while at the same time exhibiting superior surface tension reduction and wetting characteristics. The need for such compounds in sanitizing and cleaning applications, where high foam production is detrimental, is apparent for clean-in-place and machine cleaning applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It has now been found that selected amine oxides provide superior surface tension reduction and wetting characteristics while producing little or no stable foam. These compounds can be synthesized from relatively inexpensive components and are stable in formulations appropriate for use in commercial applications.

The compounds of this invention are unique amine oxides, particularly isododecyldimethylamine oxide and isotridecyldimethylamine oxide, for use as low-foaming surfactants.

The invention further provides unique amine oxides that are stable in bleach and in other formulations useful for clean-in-place and machine-cleaning applications.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the detailed description below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The branched trialkylamine oxides of the present invention have the following structure ##STR2## wherein the R₁ groups are independently selected from C₁ -C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups and R₂ is a branched chain C₁₁ -C₁₆ alkyl group. For R₁, methyl, ethyl, and hydroxyethyl are preferred and methyl is most preferred. For R₂, branched C₁₂ and C₁₃ (isododecyl and isotridecyl) groups are preferred.

Typically, alkyldimethylamine oxides are synthesized from alcohols, which are halogenated and reacted with dimethylamine to form alkyldimethylamine. This compound is then converted to the corresponding amine oxide by reaction with hydrogen peroxide.

The starting alcohols are available from Exxon Chemical Company under the trade name EXXAL. The EXXAL products are mixtures of branched primary alcohols which are produced by catalytic hydroformylation or carbonylation of higher olefin feedstocks. As an example, EXXAL 12 is a mixture of C₁₀ -C₁₄ primary alcohols having the following carbon distribution (weight %): C₁₀, 6%; C₁₁, 18%; C₁₂, 55%; C₁₃, 20%; C₁₄, 1%. The major isomers are trimethyl-1-nonanols and tetramethyl-1-nonanols. Since the reaction conditions that convert the branched alcohols to alkyl dimethyl amine oxides are relatively mild and preclude substantial rearrangements, the R₂ branched alkyl substituent of the amine oxide reflects the same isomer distribution and branching structures as that found in the starting alcohol preparation.

The alcohols are halogenated by reaction with phosphorus trihalides having the formula PX₃, wherein X is chloride, bromide, or iodide. In a preferred embodiment, PCl₃ is used, and the chlorination reaction is carried out as described in Example 1 below.

The alkyl halides that result from the above reaction are then reacted with dimethylamine in the presence of sodium hydroxide to produce alkyldimethylamines. Preferably, the molar ratio of dimethylamine to alkyl halide in the reaction is around 3:1.

Finally, the alkyldimethylamines are treated with hydrogen peroxide to form alkyldimethylamine oxides.

Table 1 shows the useful and preferred reaction conditions for the above synthetic steps.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Synthesis  Temperature (°C.)                                                                 Molar Ratio                                               of         Useful                                                                              Preferred                                                                           Ratios    Useful                                                                             Preferred                                   __________________________________________________________________________     Alkyl Halides                                                                             100-180                                                                             120-160                                                                             ROH/PCI.sub.3                                                                            1-1.2                                                                                1-1.05                                    Trialkylamme                                                                              140-220                                                                             150-190                                                                             RX/DMA    1-5 2-4                                         Trialkylamine Oxides                                                                       50-110                                                                             70-90                                                                               H.sub.2 O.sub.2 /Trialkylamine                                                           1-1.2                                                                              1.03-1.1                                    __________________________________________________________________________

The amine oxides of the present invention were evaluated using the following Standard Applications Methods (SAPM), which are described below:

Dynamic Surface Tension Measurements

These measurements were conducted with the SensaDyne Surface Tensiometer model 6000, which utilized the maximum bubble pressure method of surface tension analysis. Surface tension profiles of the amine oxides at the desired concentrations were measured in deionized water at 25° C.

Ross-Miles Foam Height Test (ASTM D1173-53)

Ross-Miles foam height measurements were taken at 25° C. Two hundred ml of a test solution at the desired concentration were dropped through a cylinder impacted with 50 ml of the same solution. Due to the impacting force, foam was generated and its height measured initially and at 5 minutes.

The Dynamic Foam Test

This method monitors foam generation at room temperature over time. A surfactant solution is pumped through an aspirator straight down into a clear glass cylinder (9.5"×24"). To compare isododecyl dimethylamine oxide with other surfactants, solutions with a total surfactant concentration of 1000 ppm are used. The diluted solution is pumped through 1 inch tubing at a flow rate of 5 ft/sec. The foam height is measured at 1 and 5 minutes after the pump is started.

Draves Wetting Time

This method was used to determine the efficiency as wetting agents at 25° C. A weighted cotton skein was dropped into a 500 ml solution. The time required for the skein to relax was recorded as the Draves wetting time. At least three determinations were averaged for each sample.

The amine oxides of the present invention can be blended with other compounds to provide formulations useful in a variety of industrial and other applications in which low foam, high surface tension reduction, and fast wetting times are desired. Non-limiting examples of such compounds include alkalizing agents, amphoteric surfactants, quaternary ammonium compounds, sequestering agents, dyes, and fragrances. In general, these agents should not contribute significant amounts of foam to the formulation. In the case of the amine oxide/amphoteric surfactant blends, the weight ratio is generally between 5/1 and about 1/5.

Examples of alkalizing agents that can be used with the amine oxides include sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, and sodium metasilicate.

Amphoteric surfactants include disodium cocoamphodiacetate (Amphoterge W-2), sodium cocoamphoacetate (Amphoterge W), disodium cocoamphodipropionate (Amphoterge K-2), disodium capryloamphodipropionate (Amphoterge KJ-2, all trade mark of Lonza). In Amphoterge KJ-2, the alkyl group is C₆ -C₈.

The amine oxides of the present invention with quaternary ammonium compounds in sanitizer applications are described in a co-pending U.S. patent application by L. K. Hall and M. Y. Chiang entitled "Low Foam Sanitizers" filed on even date herewith, which disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The detersive compositions of the invention are conventionally sold in the form of concentrates of the active ingredients. The following table shows the percent active in the formulations:

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                                         Broad Range                                                                               Preferred Range                                     Compound (% solids)                                                                            wt. %      wt. %                                               ______________________________________                                         Amine oxide     0.5-20      1-15                                               Amphoteric      0.5-20     1-5                                                 Alkalizing Agents                                                                               1-10      1-5                                                 ______________________________________                                    

When applied to hard surfaces, the aforesaid concentrates are diluted with water to form use dilutions which contain from 100 to 1000 ppm, preferably from 200 to 800 ppm of the amine oxide.

The final formulations may also include from 1 to 5% of a sequestering agent such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), from 1 to 15% of a pH regulator such as sodium hydroxide, and from 0.01 to 1% of dyes and fragrances such as those commonly used in the art in cleaning and disinfecting solutions.

Non-limiting examples of the applications in which the amine oxides can be used include clean-in-place and machine cleaning applications, such as are required in dairy plants and meat packaging plants.

The following Examples describe the synthesis and evaluation and application of the trialkyl amine oxides of the present invention. These Examples are intended to illustrate the invention without limiting its scope.

EXAMPLE 1 Synthesis of Isododecyl Dimethylamine Oxide

A. Synthesis of Isododecyl Chloride

To a 1-gallon glass-line pressure reactor was charged 715 grams of phosphorus trichloride (PCl₃, 5.2 moles). To the reactor was charged 2790 grams of isododecyl alcohol (Exxal 12, 15.0 moles) via an addition pump over a period of one hour while maintaining the reaction temperature below 100° C. After addition, the mixture was stirred at 130°-135° C. for 3 hours and cooled. The top organic layer was collected, yielding 2733 grams (94.5%) of isododecyl chloride.

B. Preparation of Isododecyldimethylamine

In a 1-gallon stainless steel autoclave was charged 4.5 moles of isododecyl chloride, 13.5 moles of dimethylamine (as 40% aqueous solution), and 4.5 moles of sodium hydroxide (as 50% aqueous solution). The mixture was heated at 175°-190° C. for 6 hours. The mixture was cooled. The top organic layer was collected and the residual dimethylamine evaporated. The isododecyldimethylamine was obtained in 98.1% yield.

C. Preparation of Isododecyldimethylamine Oxide

In a 500 ml reaction flask was charged 0.5 mole of isododecyldimethylamine. The content of the flask was heated to 70° C. A solution of 0.515 moles of hydrogen peroxide (as 30% aqueous solution) in 100 grams of de-ionized water was added while maintaining the temperature of the reaction at 75°-80° C. After addition, the reaction was stirred at 80° C. for 4 hours. Analysis showed 98.4% conversion of starting amine to isododecyldimethylamine oxide.

EXAMPLE 2 Evaluation of Surfactant Properties of Alkyldimethylamine Oxides

The series of amine oxides were tested for their surface tension reduction properties, Draves wetting time, and Ross-Miles foam height. In all cases, the products were tested at 1000 ppm actives in deionized water. Table 3 shows a comparison of the properties of these amine oxides.

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________                            Surface                                                                              Draves                                                                              Ross-Miles Foam                                                     Tension                                                                              Wetting                                                                             (mm)                                         Alkyl DMAO                                                                             Alcohol Source (dynes/cm)                                                                           (min:sec)                                                                           Initial                                                                             5 min                                   __________________________________________________________________________     Isododecyl                                                                             Exxal 12 (Exxon)                                                                              33    0:15 90   0                                       Isotidecyl                                                                             Exxal 13 (Exxon)                                                                              30.5  0:06 115  8                                       Isooctyl                                                                               Exxal 8 (Exxon)                                                                               62.9  >4:00                                                                               0    0                                       2-Ethylhexyl                                                                           2-Ethylhexyl alcohol (Aldrich)                                                                64.1  >4:00                                                                               0    0                                       Isononyl                                                                               Exxal 9 (Exxon)                                                                               56.2  >4:00                                                                               0    0                                       Isodecyl                                                                               Exxal 10 (Exxon)                                                                              51    >4:00                                                                               8    0                                       Isostearyl                                                                             Exxal 18 (Exxon)                                                                              35.8  0:12 64   64                                      Decyl   Decyl alcohol (Vista)                                                                         48    >3:00                                                                               20   0                                       Dodecyl Dodecyl alcohol (Vista)                                                                       36    0:18 140  130                                     __________________________________________________________________________

The influence of the structure of the long-chain alkyl group on surfactant properties is evident. Isododecyl dimethylamine oxide and isotridecyldimethylamine oxide (containing branched C₁₂ and C₁₃ groups respectively) both produce little or no stable foam and, at the same time, exhibit the most pronounced surface tension reduction capabilities and shortest Draves wetting times of all the tested compounds. By contrast, dimethylamine oxide containing a non-branched C₁₂ group (dodecyl), and that containing a branched C₁₈ group (isostearyl), both produce significant amounts of stable foam, while exhibiting adequate surface tension reduction and short Draves wetting times. Conversely, compounds that incorporate an unbranched C₁₀ group (decyl) or branched chains of C₈ -C₁₀ (isooctyl, 2-ethylhexyl, isononyl, and isodecyl) exhibit inadequate surface tension reduction and long wetting times, even though they produce little or no foam. Thus, the preferred embodiments of the present invention, isododecyl dimethylamine oxide and isotridecyl dimethylamine oxide, are clearly superior as low-foaming surfactants according to these criteria.

EXAMPLE 3 Comparison of Surfactant Properties

The surfactant properties of isododecyldimethylamine oxides are compared with non-ionic surfactants commonly used in the formulation. Examples are Pluronic L-61, nonylphenol ethoxlates and linear alcohol ethoxylates.

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________                      Surface                                                                              Draves                                                                              Dynamic                                                                             Ross-Miles Foam                                                tension                                                                              Wetting                                                                             Foam (mm)     Cloud                                Surfactants Source                                                                              (dynes/cm)                                                                           (min:sec)                                                                           (in) initial                                                                             5 min.                                                                             Point (°C.)                   __________________________________________________________________________     isododecyl       33    0:15 0.5   90   0  none                                 dimethylamine oxide                                                            Pluronic L-61 (ethylene                                                                    BASF 42    cloudy                                                                              0.5   0    0  24                                   oxide/propylene oxide                                                          blocked copolymer)                                                             Carsonon-9  LONZA                                                                               40    0:07 4.8   95  70  54                                   (nonylphenol, 9 mole                                                           ethoxylates)                                                                   Carsonon-12 LONZA                                                                               41    0:11 >9.0 115  90  81                                   (nonylphenol, 12 mole                                                          ethoxylates)                                                                   Neodol 91-6(C.sub.9-11                                                                     Shell                                                                               31    0:05 >9.0 129  115 53                                   alcohol ethoxylates, 6                                                                     Chemical                                                           mole EO)                                                                       Neodol 91-8 (C.sub.9-11                                                                    Shell                                                                               34    0:11 >9.0 135  122 80                                   alcohol ethoxylates, 8                                                                     Chemical                                                           mole EO)                                                                       __________________________________________________________________________

It is clear from these data that nonylphenolethoxylates and linear alcohol ethoxylates generate much higher foam and have much higher cloud points. Pluronic L-61, while produced low foam, has much longer wetting time.

The following Examples 4 through 8 are cleaning compositions that are formulated using isododecyldimethylamine oxide.

EXAMPLE 4 Low Foam Floor Cleaner Formulation

    ______________________________________                                         INGREDIENTS             % WT                                                   ______________________________________                                         Isododecyldimethylamine Oxide (30%)                                                                    11.0                                                   Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate                                                                           14.0                                                   Sodium Metasilicate (anhydrous)                                                                        5.0                                                    De-Ionized Water        70.0                                                   Total                   100.0                                                  ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 5 Bottle Wash Formulation

    ______________________________________                                         INGREDIENTS            % WT                                                    ______________________________________                                         Amphoterge KJ-2        2.0                                                     Isododecyldimethylamine Oxide                                                                         2.0                                                     Sodium Gluconate       5.0                                                     Potassium Hydroxide (50% Aqueous                                                                      12.0                                                    Solution)                                                                      De-Ionized Water       79.0                                                    Total                  100.0                                                   ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 6 Carpet Shampoo Formulation

    ______________________________________                                         INGREDIENTS           % WT                                                     ______________________________________                                         Tetrasodium EDTA      5.0                                                      Amphoterge KJ-2       3.0                                                      Isododecyldimethylamine Oxide                                                                        2.0                                                      Tripotassium Pyrophosphate                                                                           5.0                                                      Sodium Sesquicarbonate                                                                               5.0                                                      Color, Fragrance      qs                                                       De-Ionized Water      80.0                                                     Total                 100.0                                                    ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 7 Hypochlorite Tub and Tile Cleaner

    ______________________________________                                         INGREDIENTS           % WT                                                     ______________________________________                                         Sodium Hypochlorite (5.7%)                                                                           52.6                                                     Sodium Hydroxide (30%)                                                                               1.0                                                      Isododecyldimethylamine Oxide                                                                        1.5                                                      De-Ionized Water      44.9                                                     Total                 100.0                                                    ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 8 Wax Stripper (Solvent)

    ______________________________________                                         INGREDIENTS             % WT                                                   ______________________________________                                         Tetrasodium EDTA        1.0                                                    Amphoterge KJ-2         2.0                                                    Propylene glycol n-Butyl Ether                                                                         4.0                                                    Isododecyldimethylamine Oxide (30%)                                                                    3.0                                                    De-Ionized Water        90.0                                                   Total                   100.0                                                  ______________________________________                                     

What is claimed is:
 1. An amine oxide having the formula: ##STR3## wherein the R₁ groups are independently selected from C₁ -C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups and R₂ is a branched chain C₁₁ -C₁₆ alkyl group having from 3 to 4 methyl branches.
 2. The amine oxide of claim 1, wherein R₁ is a methyl group.
 3. The amine oxide of claim 1, wherein R₂ is a C₁₂ alkyl group.
 4. The amine oxide of claim 1, wherein R₂ is a C₁₃ alkyl group.
 5. A detersive composition comprising an amine oxide having the formula: ##STR4## wherein the R₁ groups are independently selected from C₁ -C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups and R₂ is a branched chain C₁₁ -C₁₆ alkyl group having from 3 to 4 methyl branches,and an amphoteric surfactant wherein the weight ratio of said amine oxide and amphoteric surfactant is between about 5/1 and about 1/5.
 6. The detersive composition of claim 5, wherein R₁ is a methyl group.
 7. The detersive composition of claim 5, wherein R₂ is a C₁₂ alkyl group.
 8. The detersive composition of claim 5, wherein R₂ is a C₁₃ alkyl group.
 9. The detersive composition of claim 5, wherein said amphoteric compound is disodium capryloamphodipropionate.
 10. The detersive composition of claim 5, wherein the composition is a concentrate and the concentration of said amine oxide is between about 0.5% and 20% by weight, and the concentration of the amphoteric surfactant is between about 0.5% and about 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the detersive composition.
 11. The detersive composition of claim 5, wherein the composition is a concentrate and the concentration of said amine oxide is between about 1% and about 15% by weight, and the concentration of the amphoteric surfactant is between about 1% and about 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the detersive composition.
 12. The detersive composition of claim 5, wherein said amine oxide and the amphoteric compound are each present in at least 10 ppm, based on the total weight of the detersive composition.
 13. The detersive composition of claim 5, wherein the concentrations of said amine oxide and the amphoteric compound are each between about 100 ppm and about 2000 ppm, based on the total weight of the detersive composition.
 14. The detersive composition of claim 5, wherein said amine oxide is isododecyldimethylamine oxide.
 15. The detersive composition of claim 5, wherein said amine oxide is isotridecyldimethylamine oxide.
 16. The amine oxide of claim 1 wherein R₂ is a tri- or tetramethylnonyl group.
 17. The detersive composition of claim 5 wherein R₂ is a trimethyl- or tetramethylnonyl group. 